Fire extinguisher



1929- J. F. HARTNEY ET AL FIRE EXTINGUI SHER Filed Aug. 21, .1925

Patented Apr. 23, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN F. EARTNEY AND GEORGE R. LABKIN, F DAYTON, (lHIO, ASSIGNORS TO THE FLASH FIRE EXTINGUISHER COMPANY, OF DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

FIRE EXTINGUISHER.

Application filed August 21, 1925. Serial No. 51,592.

This invention relates to fire extinguishers, and the primary object of the invention is the provision of a fire extinguisher which will be handy to operate, and positive and effective in its operation.

An'additional object is the provision of a finger operated push button on the side of the container which will be readily depressed by the finger of the operator to control the flow of fluid from the container, it being intended that the fire extinguisher shall be of the portable type to beheld in the hand of the operator in such a manner that the push button is accessible to a finger of the hand which holds it.

A further object is the provision of a closed valve chamber which is connected to opposite ends of the container by means of flexible pick-up tubes, the control of the fluid through these tubes being governed by a valve closure which closes the tube leading to the high side of the container. This valve closure 1s governed by a weighted control lever which is pivoted to the valve chamber and at one end movement of the valve closure about its pivct is permitted.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an end head for the container 30 to close one end thereof, this end head being provided integrally with a chamber which holds a compressed gas capsule by means of which an expelling pressure is applied to the fire extinguishing fluid within the container. This end head is provided with a central orifice through which the supply of fire extinguishing fluid mpy be replenished, this orifice bein closed by a nut which threads within the end head, and which provides a mounting for a plunger which is ada ted to permit the release of the compresse gas fromthe capsule. With-the above objects in view, and with further ob'ects and advantages as will be pointed oufi more particularly in the following description and claims, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal section of the fire extinguisher, i

2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 an Fig. 3 is an end View of the pendulum control valve.

In the drawings is shown a fire extinguish" ing fluid container 1 of generally cylindrical shape. At one end the container is closed by is pivoted the valve closure so that a limited,

depress the plunger 14 against the action of the spring'to release the compressed gas from an end wall 2 constructed integral with the mam body of the container and at the opposite end the container is closed by an end head2 of substantially the same diameter as that of the container 1, and which is connected thereto by bracing along the rim 3. The end head 2 is constructed integrally therewith with acylindrical central hollow chamber 4 which is adapted to loosely contain or hold a gas generating capsule 5 of ordinar commercial t pe. Inthe end of the charm. er 4 is a series 0 openings 6 through which the pressure may be communicated to the interior of the container 1, when it is released from the capsule 5. The end of the chamber 4 is closed by means of a screw plug or nut 7 which is threaded within the end of the chamber 4 as shown at 8, a suitable packing Washer 9 being provided to make the joint pressure-tight. Within the end of the nut 7 is threaded a spr ng retainer and capsule positioner 10 which is provided with a hollow cylindrical portion 11 adapted to fit neatly over the end of the capsule so as to prevent the capsule from moving endwise. The spring retainer 10 holds a spring 12, the other end of which presses against a washer-like sleeve 13, which is loosely mounted on a plunger 14 and abuts agamst an enlarged portion 15 on this plung v or. The plunger 14 acts as a firing pin and 1s provided with a pointed end 16 which punctures a sheet metal disc in the end of the capsule 5 when the plunger is depressed by means of the knob 17 which is threaded or otherwise fixed to the end of the'enlarged portion. 15 of the plunger. Suitable packing is provided at 18 between the sleeve 13 and the screw plug or nut 7 It will thus be seen that "the knob 17 may be bumped against an object so as to the capsule 5, and as soon as the depressing force is removed from the knob 17 the spring 12 will return the plunger to its normal position and the sleeve 13 pressed against the 100 washer 18 will maintain the joint pressuretight and prevent the leakage ofgas or fluid.

Mounted in an intermediate position within the container 1 is avalve chamber 19 which is shown in the form of a casting 20 provided 105 with an end plug 21, which has a threaded end 22 projecting through a hole within the container 1. The valve chamber is held in position within the container by the retaining nut23 threaded on the end 22. An end 110 therein.

nut 24 is threaded on the end of the threaded portion 22 'and retains a cork packing25 Slidingly mounted for endwise movement within the endnut 24 is a plunger 26 on the end of which is threaded or otherwise secured a finger operated push button 27. The plunger 26 hasan enlarged portion 28 against which a spring 29 presses to retain the plunger in the position shown in Fig. 1. The other end of the spring 29 bears against a flangeat the lower portion of the .part 21. The end of the plunger 26 is provided with a tapered valve closure 30, which makes a tight fit with the orifice provided in the upperportion of the casting 20 so as to secure the orifice againstthe passage of fluid from the valve chamber 19 when the plunger is inits position as shown. The container 1 isadapted to be held in the hand of the user and when it is grasped in the ordinary manner the push button 27 will be in a convenient location to be readily pressed by one of the fingers of'the user sothat the release of the fluid from the valve chamber 19 is under the instant control of the user. When pressed inwardly the plunger moves the closure 30 so that the fire extinguishing fluid is forced out of the container by means of the discharge pipe 31 which is tightly fitted within a depression in the part 21 and the other end of which extends slightly through the end of the container 2 where it is fixed in position.

The fluid within the container 1 is admitted to the valve chamber 19 by means of the'two flexible pickup tubes 32 and 33 which are provided with weighted ends 34 and 35 respectively, and the opposite ends of which are fixed within the'plu s'36 and 37 respectively, which are screwed within the casting 20. The ends of these plugs '36 and 37 are rovided with valve seats adapted to be closed By a spherical ended valve 38. This valve is pivoted on a pin 39 for slightly limited movement ona bifurcated end of a lever 40, which is pivoted on a screw 41 mounted in the back. of the casting 20. The lever 41 is provided with a weighted end 42 on the opposite side of the pivotfrom the valve 38. The force of gravity will thus control the closure of the ends of the plugs 36 and 37 so that the plug leading to thehigh side of the container will automatically be closed by;

it the pressure exerted on the'valve 38 through the action of the weight 42 A means isthus provided for maintaining one of the plugs open and for automatically closing the plug leading to the high side of the container.-

The chamber 19 is closed with the exception of the openings mentioned at the interior ot the container, by means of the end plate 43 which is attached to the casting 20 by means of suitable screws 44.

The operation of the device isas follows Fire extinguishing fluid is supplied to the knob 17 is struck the pressure isreleased a from the capsule and the fluid within the container is then under pressure. With the container grasped in one hand and pointed towards a fire, thefiuid is released from the discharge opening as desired by pressing with a finger upon the p,ush button 27. The passage through the flexible pickup tube which extends through the higher side of the container is closed by means of the pendulum control valve, so that it will be assured that only liquid is supplied to the valve chamber until the li uid is exhausted.

The flexi le pickup tubes will of course seek the lowest points of the container ends at all'times in the customary manner. The slight movement permitted to the valve 38 about its ivot assures the proper seating of the spherical end of this valve with the end of the lug with which it contacts. Regardless of ow the deviceis' held, an instant supply of fire extinguishing fluid is always available, and the control of this supply is effected immediately and in accordance with the users wishes. I

We are aware that various modifications may be made within the scope of our invention and it is not intended that'we should be limited to the precise construction which has been shown for purposes of illustration. We claim:

1 A portable fire extinguisher comprising a fluid container adapted to hold a quantity of fire extinguishing fiuid, an end head at one end of said container and providing a chamber for holding a compressed gas cartridge, means for releasing the compressed gas from said cartridge to create an expelling pressure within said container, a discharge orifice at one end of said container, a valve chamber within said container fixed to an intermediate part of a side wall-of the container, a pickup tube'extending from said valve cha r to each end of said container, and a finger operated push button mounted on the side of said container adjacent said valve chamber for controlling the supply of fluid from said valve chamber to said discharge orifice.

2. A rtable fire extinguisher comprising a cylin rical fluid container, an endhead for.

said container fixed thereto and provided with a chamber to hold a pressure generating capsule, an and nut threaded to said head and forming an end closure for said chamber, a

firing pin held in said end nut for endwise ber to one end of said container, a second tube,

extending from said chamber having its end opposite to said pickup tube, a valve closure adapted to close the tube leading to the high side of the container, a gravity control means Within said chamber for operating said valve closure, a dischargetube extending from said valve chamber along one side of said container to the end thereof, a closure between said valve chamber and said discharge tube, and finger operated means on the side of said container adjacent to said chamber to operate said closure to permit the release of the fluid within said container through said discharge tube.

\ 3. In a portable fire extinguisher, a fluid container, a valve chamber therein having a threaded portion projecting through a side Wall thereof, means'outside of said container for engaging said portion to hold the chamber in position, gravity actuated valve mechanism "housed in said chamber, a flat side plate closbig one side of said chamber, and means for attachlng said plate in pos1t1on.

4. In a vportable fire extinguisher, a fluid container, a valve chamber therein having a threaded portion projecting through a side wall thereof, means outside of said container for. engaging said portion tohold the chamber in position, gravity actuated valve mechanism housed in said chamber, and a finger operated push rod extending through said threaded portion for controlling the flow of fluid from said chamber.

In testimony whereof We afiix our signatures.

JOHN F. HARTNEY.

v GEORGE R. LARKIN. 

